Why the Business Model Canvas shouldn’t be taught in Higher Education

I can see them working on their assignments. Writing, writing, and more writing. Bullet points. Long texts that describe all possible features and details, carefully copy-pasted into the Canvas visual. And all of the sudden, the Business Model Canvas turns into another boring fill-in-the-blanks model, versus the magical and exciting innovation tool that it used to be to me. 

They were taught to use it like this, they tell me. Just fill up the blocks, as extensive as possible. They even correct me when I try to teach them how to make it more useful, the powerful instrument it was meant to be. Leading to business model innovation and coherence, with rhythm and elegance. 

Unfortunately this way they’ll never get to innovate really, they just do what their previous teachers told them so that hopefully they will get a good grade. That is why I think it doesn’t make any sense to use the business model canvas at all if used like this. 

So first we need to have the teachers and professors experience the power of the Business Model Canvas!

Three ways to improve your business model teaching:

Encourage expansive thinking and innovation in your team by tweaking the business model and exploring new ideas. Here’s how:

1. 1. Equip Them for Creativity: Provide small post-its, big markers, and a strict time limit of 10 minutes for initial sketches. This approach prevents direct writing on the canvas, fostering an environment where team members can freely move ideas around, focus on the broader picture rather than minute details, and avoid lengthy writing sessions. This method is crucial for sparking creative thinking and developing fresh business models.
   2. Foster Diverse Brainstorming: Whether refining an existing business model or brainstorming for new ventures, encourage your team to think outside the box. Focus on individual components or trends within the business model, using examples from various industries to inspire them to apply these insights to their own projects. This strategy aims to generate a wide range of ideas, moving beyond the obvious to uncover truly innovative solutions.
   3. Utilize Complementary Tools: The Business Model Canvas, with its symmetrical design and intuitive structure, offers a sophisticated framework for understanding business models. However, its complexity can be daunting for newcomers. To bridge this gap, introduce tools like the Value Proposition Canvas for established enterprises or the Playground for Entrepreneurs for those just starting out. These resources simplify the learning process, making it easier to grasp the full scope of the Business Model Canvas. Eventually, this leads to a ‘zoom out’ phase, where the focus expands to encompass the entire business model.

So hopefully no more boring sessions and bored students! These quick tips are easy to apply and will hopefully give you a benefit. In the long term you might want to consider taking a good workshop (for example via Strategyzer.com) about the Business Model Canvas. Because the Business Model Canvas is worth using like it was meant to be; painting out your business, in full color.